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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Middle District of Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Overseer Of Manatee County Marijuana Grow Houses Convicted At Trial

TAMPA, FLORIDA - Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury yesterday found Do Nguyen (39, Bradenton) guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 or more marijuana plants. Nguyen faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Nguyen was indicted on November 6, 2012.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Nguyen managed five separate marijuana grow houses throughout Manatee County from mid-2010 through October 2011. The houses were located in Bradenton, Parrish, and Duette. Nguyen recruited and employed three workers at the houses. Between March and October 2011, law enforcement executed a series of searches at the homes and recovered approximately 3,387 marijuana plants, worth approximately $5 million, along with extensive growing equipment and paraphernalia. During the time period of the conspiracy, Nguyen also paid a relative (Minh Tran), who worked as a driver for UPS, to deliver packages to him containing multiple pounds of marijuana from California. Tran pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana in May 2013. His sentencing is scheduled for September 23, 2013.

This case was investigated by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Bradenton Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.